Clutch mechanism.



No. 760,577. PATBNTED MAY 24, 1904. S. D. SPRONG.

CLUTCH MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 29. 1903.

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No. 760,577. l PATENTED MAY 24, 1904. S. D. SPRONG.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 29, 190s.

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l I h JI VUNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE. y

SEVERN D. SPRONG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I JAMES H. HARNDEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLUTCH IVIECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,577, datt-,array 24, 1904.

Application filed October 29, 1903.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SEvERN D. SPRONG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.V

This invention has reference to mechanism for automatically effecting the reciprocating movements incident to various types of driven machines-as,for instance, the back-and-forth movements of the bed of a planing-machine-n the present improvements involving more particularly a novel arrangement of clutch mechanism insuring the uniform and moderate advancing movement of the reciprocative part and the automatic reversal and more rapid retraction of such'part at the termination of its advance.

With the above and other purposes in view the improved mechanism comprises generally a shaft for driving such reciprocative part, together with reversely-rotating slow and fast speed gearing and alternately-actuated clutch devices coactive therewith, whereby the clutch mechanism pertaining to the slow-speed gearing will be caused to positively revolve the driving shaft in one direction and at the proper period be automatically disengaged and coincidently the clutch of the fast-speed gearing engaged and said shaft caused to revolve in a reverse direction and at a higher rate of speed. f

As one development of the invention I have disclosed internal and external gear-wheels of relatively varying diameter sleeved on the shaft driving the plane bed or other re-` ciprocative part, a constantly-driven main driving-shaft having pinions in mesh with both gear-wheels, and novel magnetic clutch members associated with said gears and in coactive relation with disks keyed on the beddriving shaft, together with provision for automatically alternately energizing and denergizing the clutch members to effect the reciprocations of the bed in the manner and un- Serial No. 179,010. (No model.)

der the conditions above referred to. The employment of the magnetic clutches permits the actuation of the main driving-shaft and gearing., as Well as operation of the clutches, from a common source of electrical supply.

There are other important features connected with the invention, which, in addition to those alluded to, are clearly set forth in the subsequent detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan View illustrating one arrangement of the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the essential apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow .in the latter figure. Fig. 8 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the clutch mechanism and contiguous parts. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the circuit-collecting rings and its brush.

As an example of one of the applications of the invention I have shown the same in Figs. l and 2 as arranged for reciprocating the bed of the planing-machine. In such Views, A designates the base or support of the planingmachine provided with the upper parallel guideways a a, on which back and forth slides the bed B. The latter is provided at its under side with the longitudinally disposed worm-rack b. Revolubly supported in a laterally-oblique bearing c, supported by the base, is a shaft C, the inner end of which has secured thereto a worm-pinion c in mesh with the rack b, while at its outer end it carries a small bevel-wheel c2, engaged with a bevel-pinion 0l on an extended shaft D, arranged at a right angle with respect to the bed-axis and which for convenience of dewhich is an internal gear-wheel F2, while on the right-hand end of said sleeve is secured an externally-toothed gear-wheel F2, which is considerably less in diameter than that of the wheel F2.

Bolted to the wheel F2 on that sideopposite the disk F is an annular clutch rim or member Fi, containing in that face juxtaposed with the disk an annular recess having an appropriately square recess in cross-section and provided with a thin lining f, of suitable insulating material. /Vithin and flush with the open side of such lined recess is a magnetic coil f2, the leads of which extend through insulating-plugs f2, both in the member F'L and wheel F2, said leads being' electrically connected with the relatively insulated collectingrings /L la, fixed on the insulating-collar H, bolted to the wheel F2 at its side opposite to that occupied by the clutch member. 'I he marginal portion of the rim FL is provided with an annular recess in which is fitted a brass ringf, which projects slightly beyond the plane of the contiguous portions of the face of the rim.

Bolted to the wheel F3 so as to be located between the same and the disk F is a clutch member F2, in all respects similar to the member F' and having the leads of its coil ff correspondingly insulated and electrically connected with collecting-rings It /L/ on an insulating-collar H', bolted to the wheel F3 at the opposite side thereof. The member F2 has an annular brass ring f, similar in condition and function to the 'ring f2 of the member Fi.

A standard I, located intermediately of the wheels F2 F3, has a horizontal bar l, on the ends of which are insulated blocks 2', on each of which are secured a pair of relatively insulated metal brushes fel 2 3 e, contacting with the rings It /t /L r, respectively.

J designates an electric motor the armature of which revolves the driving-shaft J properly supported in appropriately-located bearings jj. Keyed on the endof the shaft J is a pinion J2, which meshes with the interiorlylocated teeth of the wheel F2. Also on the shaft J, at an intermediate part thereof, is a pinion J, somewhat larger in diameter than the pinion J2 and in mesh with the externallylocated teeth of the wheel F3.

The circuit-wires for conveying the current may be suitably disposed, the only requisite being that when a circuit is completed through the coils of one clutch member the circuit through the coils of the other member will be interrupted. The arrangement illustrated provides for a wire K, which may lead from the motor direct or form part of a shunt around the same, being supplied from any suitable source and intersecting a short branch 1, connected at its respective ends by suitable binding-screws with the brushes 112 3, pertaining to both clutch members. A wire L, similarly connected to the brush i', leads to the chine.

contact w. of a switch N, interiorly secured on one of the sides ofthe base of the planing-ma- Thc brush v1" is electrically connected by a wire M with a contact fa of said switch. This latter embraces a pivoted lever NQ having oppositely-extending arms fla/2 w, adapted to alternately close the circuit through the contacts n fa as the lever is rocked, the circuit through either contact being completed through said switch-lever and through a common return-wire O, connecting with the lever. A somewhat longer lever F is pivotally attached at the inner side of the planer-base and extends beneath the planer-base, so as to be alternately struck by tappets p p at the limit of the bed travel in both directions, so that said lever will be shifted and such motion transferred by a link P/ to the lever N of the switch and effect the breaking of one clutchcircuit and the completion of the other.

From the description thus far it will be easy to comprehend the operation and functions of the parts. With the bed Bat the limit of its advance movement it will be seen, as indicated partly by dotted lines in Fig. l, the tappet 7) has tripped the lever P, so that the switch has been operated to deenergize the coils of the clutch member F2 and energize the coils ofthe clutch member F5. The result of this condition of parts will be that the sleeved relation of the gears and clutch members will cause the magnet engagement of the disk F, so that the same will become sensible of the driving action of the pinion J and gear-wheel F, to the end that the clutch-shaft Dwill be driven in a direction and at rate of speed effecting the rapid retraction of the bed B. The slightlyprojecting character of the brass ring' f will preclude the direct contact between the disk F and any magnetized metal part of the clutch member, so that upon the deenergization of the latter the clutch-release will positively occur and all sticking prevented. l hen the bed attains the limit of its retracted position, the tappet p will reverse the switch in an obvious manner, with the result that the clutch member F2 will be disengaged and the clutch Fl energized to magnetically engage the disk F, which by reason of the internal gear relation of the disk J2 with the wheel F2 and larger' diameter of the latter Will occasion the forward movement of the bed at a slower rate of speed than that acquired during its retraction. These operations automatically continue in their alternations as long as required. It will therefore be seen that the reversing' mechanism described is not only positive, etlicient, and comparatively simple, but will operate in a manner requiringl little or no attention on the part of the attendant.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the particular arrangement and construction of parts shown and described, but reserve the right to all modifications that may be fairly within the scope of my invention.

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Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In reversing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a reciprocative part, of a shaft geared therewith, internal and external gear-wheels of different diameters, and clutch provision for alternately connecting said wheels with the shaft, a driveshaft having gear-pinions engaging said gearwheels, and means operable from the reciprocative part for controlling the clutch provision.

2. In reversing mechanism of the class described, the combination with a reciprocative part, of a shaft geared therewith, internal and external gear-wheels, and magnetic clutch provision for alternately connecting said wheels with the shaft, circuits and a switch for controlling said clutch provision, and devices actuated from the reciprocative part and actuating the switch.`

3. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a driven shaft having disks secured thereon, of a sleeve loose on said shaft between the disks, a gear-wheel on each end of the sleeve and carrying a clutch-rim in juxtaposition to the adjacent disk, magnetizing-coils for both clutch-rims, provision for reversely rotating said gearwheels,and means for alternately energizing the said coils.

4. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a driven shaft having disks secured thereon, of "a sleeve loosely on said shaft and having at its ends internal and external gear-wheels respectively, and of different diameters, a clu tch-rim carried by each wheel in juxtaposition to the contiguous disk, magnetizing-coils for both clutch-rims, a driving-shaft having pinions meshing with said wheels, and means for automatically and alternately energizing the coils.

5. In reversing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a reciprocative part, of a shaft geared for actuating the same and having disks secured thereon, reversely rotated magnetic clutch members loosely on the shaft and coactive with the disks, circuit connections controlled by a switch for alternately energizing the clutch members, said switch having a circuit-controlling lever connections operated by the movements of the reciprocative part.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses,this 17 th day of October, 1903.

SEVERN D. SPRONG.

Witnesses:

B. PATTERSON, EDGAR A. MoNFoRT. 

